Sunday, September 30, 2007

With 6 days to go, I am looking at the race course and trying to remember areas where I suffered last year. I did this event multi-speed last year and I am trying to recollect the harder climbs.

If you have been following this blog during the year, you will remember that I have done two double centuries and numerous centuries on my fixed gear. As far as climbing, I have gone up Palomar Mountain and various other shorter climbs using a pretty big Gear Inch.

One of the things I love about riding fixed gear is the advantage I feel I have over multi-speed riders on shallow grade climbs. I think the 21 mile climb out of Baker is perfectly suited to fixed gear riding.

Today I changed the tires on my bike. I plan on riding tubular tires because the terrain is so bad in certain parts of the race that I would like to lower the air-pressure so that the ride is much tolerable.

In the pictures above you will notice that I have Phil Wood High Flange hubs laced to Velocity Fusion rims 32H with a 25mm rim depth. It is built to the 508 spec. But after riding so many miles from commuting on my tubies this year (I rode tubies on RAAM 2007), I realized that I could ride them at lower pressures to improve ride quality over rough terrain. When riding clinchers at low pressures you run the risk of pinch flats.

I will be riding Mavic Reflex tubular rims 32H laced to Campagnolo Pista High Flange hubs.

Thursday, September 27, 2007

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About Me

I am an Ultra Cyclist and father who completed 2- Person Race Across America (RAAM) in 2007. I have finished Furnace Creek 508 SOLO FOUR consecutive years in 2006, 2007 (Fixed Gear)2008, and 2009. I am a Trans Iowa finisher and a Super Randonneur. I am a cycling coach with clients ranging from endurance cyclists, to triathletes, to beginners just entering the sport of cycling.
Email: vireo508@gmail.com
Website: www.epictrain.com